Renfrewshire golfer Sam Binning reckons the poignancy of the King’s Course is aiding his purposeful push at the M&H Logistics Scottish PGA Championship.

The Mearns Castle-based pro added a two-under 69 to his opening 67 for a six-under 136 as he finished four shots behind halfway leader Gareth Wright.

Binning’s late grandfather was a member at Gleneagles for 40 years and his ashes were scattered on the 14th hole of the King’s Course.

Binning said: “I always feel at ease up here. I grew up playing the small courses and it’s always been a place that I’ve enjoyed coming to. Instead of trying harder, I feel relaxed as I know how much this place meant to my grandfather.”

Binning may have kept himself in the title hunt with 36-holes to play but he was left cursing a trio of three-putt bogeys on the front nine which hindered his progress.

He added: “I was striking the ball really well and creating plenty of chances but I putted poorly. This was a card which could have been much better. In fact I could’ve been at least tied for the lead.”

As the reeling in job on overnight leader Wright intensified, Motherwell ace Paul O’Hara bolstered his assault with a six-under 65 to move into a share of second, just two off the pace. Sibling rivalry was clearly a driving force.

O’Hara’s older brother Steven, who had nine seasons on the main European Tour and is now doing his PGA training, also hurtled round in 65 blows as the former Walker Cup player and Scottish Amateur champion moved up onto a three-under tally. “I saw Steven’s name on the leaderboard when I got to the 14th so I thought I’ll need to try to match that,” said the younger O’Hara.

Paisley’s former Scottish PGA champion Alastair Forsyth mounted a spirited salvage operation and having been three-over after just three holes of his second round, he hit back with five birdies and an eagle in a 67 to finish on a four-under total.